UTICA, NY — Police have charged a 20-year-old man with assault after a teenager was struck in the head with a baseball bat during a large group altercation at a McDonald’s restaurant.
Utica Police and Fire units responded to the McDonald’s on Mohawk Street at approximately 7 p.m. March 30, 2026, for a report of an assault.
Officers found a 15-year-old male victim suffering from a large laceration to his forehead.
Police learned that a large group of individuals had entered the restaurant and an altercation began, which then moved into the parking lot.
During the altercation, the victim was struck in the head with a baseball bat.
Several individuals fled the area in vehicles.
Patrol officers located one of the vehicles in the 1600 block of Miller Street after a BOLO was issued.
Officers stopped the vehicle and found it occupied by four people, who were all detained and transported to the Utica Police Department.
After reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses, police determined one individual had struck the victim.
That individual was among the four people detained.
Ramadan Ismail, 20, of Utica, was charged with assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and endangering the welfare of a child.
Police said there was a large increase in group disturbances at the McDonald’s location and at Proctor Park on March 30, 2026.
